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| Credit - painting by Amy Tyler |
I have a hummingbird feeder outside the window by my
computer. As I write this, there are two of them zooming and diving outside
with a passion that would rival any WWII dogfight. Considering how much energy
they consume just getting through their day, they’re both going to need a heck
of a lot more of that sugar water after these kinds of aerial acrobatics.
If you look closely, the white dot above the glass ball is the moment's king of the hill.
I couldn’t
resist, so here are a few factoids I just found:
A hummingbird burns between 6,600 and 12,000 calories a day.
They’re the smallest migrating bird and usually migrate
alone, up to 500 miles at a time.
A flock of hummingbirds is called a hover, shimmer, tune, or
my personal favorite, a glimmering.
The average weight of a hummingbird is less than a nickel.
The nests are smaller than a half dollar and the eggs about
the size of a jelly bean.
With no sense of smell, they are good with color and prefer
red or orange flowers. Finally an explanation for all those garish red and
yellow feeders.
And for my
public service announcement, make your own nectar for them. It’s easy, just 4
parts water to 1 part sugar. The dyed commercial stuff can harm them.
We just got a fancy , hand blown orange and red feeder, We do not have quite the circus of birds that you have, just are a few. Factoids are always welcomed! Remarkable little hovers!
ReplyDeletethey spend more time chasing each other off than they do feeding.
ReplyDeleteColour me envious. Very envious.
ReplyDeleteI would be happy to burn calories at that rate of knots too.
ReplyDeleteThat is a LOT of calories. It amazes me that they can even exist! What little beauties they are. And yes, they are really fierce! :-)
ReplyDeleteAren't they just the most feisty little devils. You need a feeder apiece for males, and even then one will use up all his sugar water on patrol among all the feeders that darn human hung.
ReplyDeleteI have witnessed this feisty behaviour.
ReplyDeleteA shimmer of Hummingbirds would be a wonderful sight. We don't get them down here. I would definitely have a feeder if we did.
ReplyDeleteHummingbirds are amazing. We have had two feeders hanging all summer and it is a job keeping sugar water boiled and ready to refill them every day.
ReplyDelete